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if the extra 40hp only comes from a software flash, how reliable will the upgrade even be? I would guess that a year or two down the road this software flash will need reloading as the car ages and loses power? This whole ZMX package is for suckers and I admit I was taken.

if the extra 40hp only comes from a software flash, how reliable will the upgrade even be? I would guess that a year or two down the road this software flash will need reloading as the car ages and loses power? This whole ZMX package is for suckers and I admit I was taken.

Why would it need reloading unless something had overwritten it? The 1M, 335is and Z4 sDrive35is all have a performance tuned version of the N54, this is just BMW doing the same with the N55. It could be a different engine variant like the 6 series uses, but we won't know until someone takes delivery.

if the extra 40hp only comes from a software flash, how reliable will the upgrade even be? I would guess that a year or two down the road this software flash will need reloading as the car ages and loses power? This whole ZMX package is for suckers and I admit I was taken.

I am confused, are you saying that getting the software flash will sorta work or stop working over time? If you have the flash then you have the flash. Any and all software updates will take into account the M performance software and include that in the updates.

Your argument that a care looses HP over age does not make sense. If your ENGINE is producing less Horsepower due to age, you will have less HP. BMW is not going to change or create a remap of their software to constantly give you the same HP off that your BMW had when it left the factory. I have never heard of a car company every doing this. If you do in fact loose HP as the engine ages, you will still have more HP with the M Performance flash, than with the base flash. Loosing 10% of 440 vs 400 will still produce more HP over time.

Anyone heard of the M-Performance Package's impact (if any) on the fuel economy numbers of the 35i or the 50i?

Hoping that this "tune" will be at worst neutral to MPG figures. Am going with the 50i and that is already a fairly thirsty car.

Anyone have experience with other "tunes" of this magnitude (~10% boost) and their impact on MPG?

Sounds like this "tuned" version of the N63 is going to be the BASE engine for the new 650 Gran Coupe so that makes me think BMW is pretty confident in the "tuning" inherent within the M-Performance package.

Since the increase in HP comes via boost from the turbos your right foot controls your MPG. Only should you access the additional boost(power) will your MPG decline. With that said, if you are like me you will inevitably make use of the extra power. As a point of reference with my N54 (335i twin turbo), I averaged 22mpg under spirited driving in stock form. In stage III FBO trim, making 40% more horsepower, mpg was 17 on average. This is about a 20% decrease. Now, with only 10% increase in power on the N63 I'd put mpg decrease at around 5% - 10% with your right foot being the largest variable. This assumes that the efficiency curves of the engines are similar - which I suspect they are.

I just ordered and got a production number from BMW with ZMP,ZMX, and Cold Weather Package (which included item no 248 which is a heated steering wheel). The steering wheel that was accepted with the order was the 7XA M steering wheel with paddles, so it's gotta be heated. CA is still waiting to hear from BMW NA and also headquarters about getting a much more detailed description of ZMX going forward, especially with the lack of identifier for just the 40hp upgrade, which the CA says is done by a computer program at the factory.

Just took delivery of my new X5 5.0 with ZMX/ZMP/CWZ, Premium Sound, Premium Package, Tech Package. Carbon Black Metallic/Cinnamon Brown... During the order process I looked to this forum to see what anyone knew about the overlapping/conflicting packages for the M sport with the 7XA M wheel with Paddles as M wheels did not previously have heat. My CA assured me that the M wheel with paddles under this configuration would come heated and IT DID.
Question resolved.

Sounds awesome. Really thought about Carbon Black when I leased my '10 4.8 and was concerned about swirl marks, let me know how it works. The dealer did not have any on the lot so I ordered Sapphire and Cinnamon. Lease is up in February and looking at 5.0 with Adaptive Drive and possibly M Sport in either White (w/ M) or Sapphire/Carbon Black on Oyster with Aluminum. Is this your first experience with Carbon Black? Black is so tough to keep clean but it looks the best, in my opinion.

i am going to move into a larger BMW and am considering the 2013 X5 xDrive35i with M Sport Package (ZMP) and M Performance Package (ZMX).

i've read that many of the ZMX M Performance Package equipped vehicles were delivered missing the stainless steel trimmed pedals (or had one but not two ZMX pedals). others were delivered with the standard exhaust tips - missing the ZMX black chrome tips. how can you verify the + 40 HP tune was installed? i've run the BMW VIN decoder on several i am interested in...the ZMX M Performance Package is verified by the "767" M Performance Package/"7XA" M Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters included in the build sheet. However, the photos rarely include the stainless pedals or black chrome tips. have any ZMX equipped vehicles been delivered without the tune?

* should a Performance Package decal have been placed under the hood?
* i see the ZMX offers + 40 HP - i've never found the listed torque increase. (?)
* does anyone have the part #'s for the stainless pedal kit?
* i've read the exhaust change is only the addition of the black chrome tips. others have indicated the exhaust has a different sound: the ZMX muffler has a part # of 180376 39892 vs. 183076 00492. is that correct?

You can always find ways to increase HP. BMW isn't the only one who knows how to do it.

More than anything else and if you like spirited driving, not just brute power, ... find a car with Adaptive Drive. That's something you CANNOT add, or retrofit. It must come from the factory and is extremely rare in the 2012 and 2013 X5 models ...